Speeches
Speech by Consul General Sharon Anderholm Wiener to the MARE Forum “Continuity and Change: The Foreign Policy of the Obama Administration”
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
(as prepared)
Representatives of Zihni Holding and Kaptanoğlu Holding, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It's my great pleasure to be here with you today.
One of the many rewards of being the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul is that my official residence has a truly spectacular view of the Bosphorus. As I begin and end each day watching ships in the Bosphorus, I am reminded of the pivotal role of this picturesque waterway in the history of Turkey. I believe that this passage has never been as important as it is today. In our globalized, interdependent, energy-hungry world, shipping through Turkey has taken on monumental significance for the health of world economies. But I did not come today to talk about the global shipping market, but rather about the foreign policy of the new Obama Administration and in doing that, the first thing I need to talk about is change.
It was clear during the long 2008 presidential campaign that American voters wanted change. They wanted a break from the past, a new political course, a new direction. In a speech last February, then-Senator Barack Obama declared: "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." Later, in June, Obama's Republican rival, Senator John McCain appealed to that same yearning for change, saying, "No matter who wins this election, the direction of this country is going to change dramatically."
And on November 4, Americans elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and first African-American president, with one of the highest voter turnouts in a century. More than 66 million Americans voted for Obama; more than 58 million voted for McCain. It was a clear and decisive victory. But the nation, while united in its desire for change, was still divided about exactly what kind of change it wanted. As great an achievement as winning the election was, it was just the first test for our new President. As the headline of the International Herald Tribune read the day after the election: "Big Victory, Bigger Challenges." President Obama now faces the economic crisis and a range of difficult international issues –the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran; the search for peace between Palestinians and Israelis; and the need to confront climate change and find alternative sources of energy, just to name a few.
While the buzzword of the presidential election was "change," many aspects of foreign policy remain fairly constant because U.S. foreign policy is based on national interests that are shared across party lines. There may not be shifts in policy regarding many issues such as maritime security.
But for many people around the globe a most noticeable change has already taken place, namely a change in the tone of U.S. foreign policy. At the 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy on February 7, Vice President Joseph Biden told our NATO allies: "I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration, and an administration that's determined to set a new tone not only in Washington, but in America's relations around the world."
President Obama has already taken some significant steps to reach out to other nations. He highlighted the importance of diplomacy in his foreign policy by visiting the Department of State on his second day in office with his new Secretary of State and former political rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton. That day, he appointed special envoys to show his commitment to two specific areas: Senator George Mitchell for Middle East Peace and Richard Holbrooke for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Both of these distinguished public servants have already been to their respective regions on “listening tours” and will return again soon. President Obama also restored the position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to a Cabinet level position in his administration further underscoring the importance of diplomacy.
The President has made dialogue with the Muslim world one of his top priorities. He began this dialogue by granting his first foreign interview to al-Arabiya on January 26. The President believes Americans and Muslims can enjoy a productive and close relationship with common goals, such as a peaceful Middle East and educational opportunities for the region’s children.
Having been in power for less than two months now, the Obama administration is reviewing policy in many key areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. These strategic reviews aim to ensure that our goals are clear, and that they are achievable.
The Obama Administration views Afghanistan as the central front in our enduring struggle against terrorism and extremism. As Vice President Biden has said, "The United States will continue to work for a stable Afghanistan that's not a haven for terrorists." The situation in this region is perilous with Al Qaeda and the Taliban striking from bases along the Pakistani border. Progress will take time. As the United States continues to develop our new strategic goals in Afghanistan, we will do so in concert with our friends and allies as together we seek the resources necessary to succeed. We will seek stronger partnerships with the governments of the region, sustained cooperation with our NATO allies, deeper engagement with the Afghan and Pakistani people, and a comprehensive strategy to combat terror and extremism. As President Obama has said, the solution is not just military but involves diplomacy and development.
Meanwhile, we have seen Iraq become more stable, with a reduction in violence there. President Obama promised during his election campaign that the United States would responsibly draw down our forces in Iraq. The planned drawdown of troops will give Iraqis more responsibility for security in a sovereign and independent Iraq. President Obama believes an aggressive diplomatic effort is necessary to reach a comprehensive compact on the stability of Iraq and the region. This compact will aim to secure Iraq’s borders; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq’s sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq’s reconstruction and development. This effort will include all of Iraq’s neighbors.
As for U.S. policy toward Iran, President Obama has said that it is very important for the United States to use all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran. The President was very clear in noting that Iran has acted in ways that are not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region. At the same time the President said clearly that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but also where there are potential avenues for progress. We will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. There is a clear opportunity for the Iranian government to demonstrate some willingness to engage meaningfully with the international community.
During her visit to the Middle East last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “The United States is committed to a comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors and we will pursue it on many fronts. So too will we vigorously pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Secretary Clinton attended the conference on addressing the humanitarian and early recovery needs of the Palestinian people after the recent conflict, and the United States joined with others in stepping forward to help. Our pledge of over $900 million will deliver assistance to the people of Gaza and the West Bank. In pledging these funds, we are pursuing both a short- and long-term approach. It is not enough just to respond to the immediate needs of the Palestinian people. Our response to today’s crisis in Gaza cannot be separated from our broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace.
The challenges America faces in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and the Middle East are not America's alone, and America cannot face them alone. As President Obama said, "The common thread linking these challenges is the fundamental reality that in the 21st century, our destiny is shared with the world's. From our markets to our security, from our public health to our climate, we must act with that understanding that now more than ever, we have a stake in what happens across the globe. And as we learned so painfully on 9/11, terror cannot be contained by borders nor safely provided by oceans alone." As America embraces a more multilateral approach, we recognize the need for greater contributions from our allies.
Turkey has been a strategic ally of the United States for 58 years and our friend since the founding of the Turkish republic in 1923. The strength of our relationship is not based solely on our long NATO alliance, as important as that is. The United States and Turkey share the same values. As Secretary Clinton said while in Ankara on Saturday, "We share a commitment to democracy, a secular constitution, respect for religious freedom, a belief in free markets and a sense of global responsibility."
We face an uncertain world where one fact is certain: Turkey's importance to America is even more pronounced at a time when the Middle East in the 21st century has replaced Europe in the 20th century as the most critical region for U.S. core national security.
In February, President Obama had warm and productive phone conversations with President Gül and Prime Minister Erdoğan. The president emphasized the importance of the U.S. alliance with Turkey and says he looks forward to working with both President Gül and Prime Minister Erdoğan on a broad range of mutual strategic interests. The president emphasized his desire to strengthen U.S. -Turkish relations and to work together effectively in NATO. In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues, including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship, the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the review of Afghanistan and Pakistan policy.
And on March 7, after meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Babacan, Secretary of State Clinton stated, "President Obama asked me to send a personal message as a reflection of the value we place on our friendship with Turkey. President Obama will be visiting Turkey within in the next month or so.” The details of this visit are now being worked out.
Looking at the U.S.-Turkish relationship in terms of the issues I’ve discussed, I would say this: First, on Afghanistan – a stable Afghanistan is in both our interests and there U.S. and Turkish troops and diplomats are working side-by-side to solidify the democratic changes that have taken place and fight back a resurgent Taliban. Turkish troops are making a valuable contribution leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Wardak. Secretary of State Clinton noted during her visit to Turkey, "Turkey has been a major contributor to the ongoing struggle to stabilize Afghanistan. I remember the first time I flew into Afghanistan in 2003. The officer who met me as I came off my plane was a Turkish officer.”
On Iraq and Iran, no country has more to gain than Turkey from a stable, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful region. Turkey can make a unique contribution to regional stability by helping ensure peace, freedom, prosperity and stability in Iraq, and by supporting international efforts to convince Iran to end its destabilizing policies. In Iraq, Turkey has already taken many steps to help ensure efforts to establish democracy there are successful. As one of the primary organizers of the Iraqi Neighbors process which helped to bring together Iraq’s neighboring states in common cause in support of stability there, Turkey showed its commitment to this goal. Turkish efforts continue, with President Gul’s plan to visit Baghdad before the end of the month an important and symbolic step that underscores Turkish confidence in Iraq’s government and the degree to which it has been able to establish security and stability. As the situation in Iraq improves and some of the existing diplomatic strategies begin to wane, we must continue to pursue an aggressive diplomatic effort to reach a comprehensive compact that can help ensure the long-term stability of Iraq – one that secures Iraq’s borders, strengthens its government, and isolates al-Qaeda. We will work with Turkey to persuade Iran to stop pursuing a nuclear weapons capability, to stop supporting terrorist groups, and to do more to support Iraqi security and stability. Indeed, all states in the region must play a part in securing Iraqi and regional stability. We face a world where too often terrorists strike at the innocent, as we were reminded in Mumbai last November. Turkey and the United States both want to see an end to terrorism, particularly the end of the PKK and its attacks against Turkish citizens.
On the Middle East, the United States and Turkey share the goal of a peaceful Middle East with a two-state solution – Palestinians and Israelis living side-by-side in peace and security. The Obama Administration will actively and aggressively seek a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel and its Arab neighbors. Turkey has an important, positive and constructive role to play in the region. During her visit to Turkey, Secretary Clinton said, "I offered my appreciation to the prime minister and foreign minister for the leadership role that Turkey has played in bringing Syria and Israel together.”
More broadly, Turkey and the United States are working together in the G-20 to face the global economic crisis. The world now faces the most severe global economic challenge since the Great Depression of the 1930s. A global crisis needs a global response. Our solutions must be as wide in scope as the causes themselves, taking into account the complexities of the global economy, geopolitics, and the continued political and economic repercussions from the damage already done.
We have also worked together to realize the energy potential of this region. Turkey occupies a strategic location in the region's energy supply chain. About eight percent of the world's internationally traded oil transits Turkey each day (either by land or through the Bosphorus), and its position becomes increasingly important as we consider the best route to bring new resources from the Caspian basin to international markets. Turkey and the United States are now building on the success of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and are working together to develop a new generation of natural gas infrastructure that will help Europe secure its energy supplies at prices set by markets, not by monopolists.
The United States strongly supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Turkish membership in the EU would afford it economic opportunities and cement its reform process. Europe has much to gain from Turkey as well. Turkey has a population that is, on average, much younger than that of the rest of Europe, and can provide the labor force and dynamism the European economy will need to meet the challenges of globalization.
Although we face grave economic and political challenges, this is a time for optimism and hope. In a BBC poll about people's attitudes toward the Obama administration, taken in 17 countries after the U.S. presidential elections, Turks showed the greatest increase - of all countries in the poll - in optimism about improved world relations with the United States. Fifty-one percent of Turks think America's relations with the rest of the world will improve under President Obama — up 40 points from just 11 per cent last summer.
UN Ambassador Susan Rice recently said in an interview with National Public Radio: “We will extend our hand. We will look to others to do the same. But we won't pick unnecessary battles. We won't seek confrontation for confrontation's sake. We want to set a very different tone and to signal to the world that America is back and that we want to lead in the way that can be trusted and respected.”
This new tone will be important. And I know that no matter what the future holds, the relationship between Turkey and the United States will remain solid because we want the same things. We believe in the same values: democracy, respect for individual rights, rule of law, market and open economies, and the spread of peace and stability throughout the region.
Thank you very much.